The New Feminist blog is just the beginning! Whether you are just starting out on your journey of discovering your dignity and vocation as a woman or are already well on your way, there is always room for growth. Here are some suggestions for further reading and activities to help you live your feminine genius to the fullest.
Absolutely Necessary (in my humble opinion)
Letter to Women, by Pope St. John Paul II (Read it here. I have yet to find an inexpensive, quality hard copy. If you know of one, let me know!) This is a great intro to JPII’s thought on women; it’s not too long, and while the content is profound, it’s not intimidating. I call this the gateway drug to JPII- easy to access and it gets you hooked. đ
Mulieris Dignitatem (On the Dignity and Vocation of Women), by Pope St. John Paul II (Read it for free here, or buy this inexpensive, annotated edition here.) This document is quite a bit longer and denser than Letter to Women, but it is well worth the effort to read it all the way through! It delves into many of the same themes as Letter to Women, but in much more detail.
Theology of the Body, by Pope St. John Paul II (Read it for free here, or buy it here.) I’d be a hypocrite if I told you to read the whole thing, since I honestly haven’t made it through cover to cover yet. It is quite dense, but there are lots of books and programs out there that present it in an easier format. Personally, I like reading the original, and I think it’s important to read the original text, but it can be helpful to supplement with some of these other resources.
Strongly Recommended (i.e. you need a really, really good excuse not to do this)
Endow groups for women- Join an Endow group near you! Endow recommends starting with the Letter to Women study group, but there are lots of other studies you can go on to do afterwards: On the Dignity and Vocation of Women, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Edith Stein, St. Teresa of Avila (brand new!), and so many more. If you can’t find a group near you, start one yourself! It’s easy to become a certified facilitator, and helping to educate other women on their nature and dignity is incredibly rewarding.
Sisters of Life retreats- Attend a retreat with the Sisters of Life. Whether or not you choose to attend a retreat specifically for women, I promise that your time with the Sisters will inspire you to embrace your God-given femininity in a whole new way. The Sisters radiate such motherly love and receptivity, they are practically overflowing with feminine genius!
Recommended (I mean, why wouldn’t you?)
Blessed is She- Blessed is She has tons of great resources for Catholic women. From daily devotionals and blog posts to Blessed Brunches and online workshops, this ministry does an incredible job of serving Catholic women all over the world.
Theology of Home- Theology of Home is a wonderful website for Catholic women. Each day, it publishes a new “collection” of media curated specifically for Catholic women, and you can have the daily collection delivered straight to your inbox so you don’t forget to check it out!
Catholic Women’s Forum- In their own words: “The Catholic Womenâs Forum is an international network of Catholic women that responds to Pope Francisâs call for women to be a âmore effective presenceâ in the Church and in the world.” Its mission is  “to amplify the voice of Catholic womenâwithin the culture and the Churchâin support of Catholic teachings.” CWF has been doing an impressive job of fulfilling this mission, and its website is a great resource. Also, check out their awesome book, Promise and Challenge: Catholic Women Reflect on Feminism, Complementarity, and the Church.
When Women Pray: Eleven Catholic Women on the Power of Prayer– Read this beautiful book reflecting on the power of feminine prayer. I recommend reading a chapter at a time, preferably in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, and really taking the time to meditate on the questions at the end of each chapter.
The New Feminist 